I can understand Alex and his family being mad about the situation.
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However, it was believed Smith was upset 60 Minutes did not ask him for his side of the story and Australia’s Channel Nine TV network should not expect him to agree to any interview requests from the broadcasters before, during or after Wednesday’s Origin III at Suncorp Stadium.
Melbourne released a statement prior to the 60 Minutes broadcast, when newspaper reports aired about McKinnon’s comments on the program, with newly-installed Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy moving to defend his captain on Triple M.
The ex- Knights forward has told 60 Minutes, he heard a “click” then everything stopped.
“I just thought it was unfair for me to be alive, honestly”.
McKinnon, who was left a quadriplegic after Newcastle’s Round 3 clash against Melbourne in 2014, was highly critical of Smith during the episode. That’s what it felt like, ” he told interviewer Liz Hayes.
15 months on from the devastating incident, some feeling has returned to McKinnon’s body.
“He said ‘I can’t get through this myself, I need you, I want you to be here with me for the rest of my life, and he just said, will you marry me?'”, Ms Power said. “They can do what they want to do”. That’s just ludicrous. Nothing’s changed.
“I’ve known Cameron since I was a young boy and the person I know is that of a humble, good human being”, Parker said.
McKinnon was also mad that Smith had failed to contact him since the accident in March past year while McKinnon’s father Scott described the Australian skipper’s actions as unforgivable.
“If he doesn’t duck his head that doesn’t happen, anyone who ducks their head now is that going to be a penalty?” At the time of the tackle this column raised Smith’s continued remonstration with the referee without appearing to show appropriate concern for McKinnon as he lay on the field in a very bad way.
Wayne Bennett, Newcastle coach at the time of the tackle, continues to wear a wrist band in McKinnon’s honour, and says he will only take it off the day “we realise he won’t walk again, or he will walk”.
Melbourne second-rower Ryan Hoffman spoke with Smith several times during the stoppage and after McKinnon was assisted from the field by trainers and medical staff from both clubs, the Storm captain again approached Sutton to argue against the penalty.
McKinnon said he had not heard from Smith since the incident.
Poore later apologised and said that he didn’t know why he had picked Price up after he had been knocked out by Blues prop Brett White.
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‘I have no doubt that he would want to (try and contact McKinnon).
